The third month of 2016 is upon us, and I am revisiting where I am with this year’s word.
I see it every day across my room, resting on the shelf of mini-books in the corner.
When I chose this word, I envisioned things like restorative yoga poses and gentleness on my body and spirit. It was almost like a time out or time off or freedom to not do much of anything.
I had little specific direction, which was fine with me. Honestly, I wanted to just survive the year with another child graduating from high school and adjust to the next batch moving up and into and through the middle school ranks.
Then I took the leap and applied to the Allender Center’s Lay Counseling Certificate Program. I filled out the online application and sat through a phone interview and now wait to see what will happen next.
Then there was the goals challenge offered by my firstborn that I accepted. I wrote down specific goals for the year with the intention of working on them and marking my progress. This discipline uncovered some things about me and my history that I would rather ignore, but my response to feedback from others is challenging me to address more hurt.
Maybe the locusts ate my self-confidence. Maybe they swallowed my voice. Maybe they hijacked my ability to risk. Maybe they devoured my dreams. Maybe those are what will be restored as I lean into 2016.
I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten
Joel 2:25, ESV
Right now I don’t have a clear focus. I sit in much unrest and uncertainty, even as I take on the challenges of each day. Of one thing I am certain. I can rest in unrest and settle into uncertainty and move through the journey with confidence that he who began is faithful to complete.
You give me hope. Thank you.
Hope is a good thing! Let’s hold on to it together.